Exploratory Grand Tetons Ride, USA

Come with us on an extraordinary six-day journey into the heart of the American wilderness, where steady hoofbeats synchronise with the untamed rhythms of nature. Here, we’ll tread lightly across a kingdom where myth and legend are as real as wolves, bears, elk and bison. This is not just a horse riding adventure; it’s a rendezvous with the wild, each day unfolding against the spectacular backdrop of the Teton mountains.

Riding sturdy, surefooted trail horses through the Gros Ventre Wilderness, the thrill of exploration is matched by the satisfaction of reaching camp after a long but incredibly rewarding day in the saddle. This itinerary combines comfortable camping, spectacular scenery and multi-layered history with the remote mileage that only a pack trip can offer.

Packing is a dying art, and it’s a true privilege to travel in the company of animals and people who have a deep understanding of this spellbinding landscape. With a string of strong, soulful mules carrying our supplies from camp to camp, we’ll ride light through forests, valleys, mountains and meadows. That said, this is no speed contest: the terrain is as challenging as the scenery is jaw-dropping, and it’s hard to canter and gawk at the same time!

The Grand Tetons Ride offers a blend of exhilaration and tranquility, a chance to drop out of modern life and into the present moment. Join us as we forge deep connections in some of the most pristine back country you could ever hope to see.

Trophy Mountain Outfitters is a permittee of the Bridger-Teton National Forest and an equal-opportunity service provider. This trip is conducted by Trophy Mountain Outfitters.

Fast Facts

Horse Breed:Big boned draft-cross mountain trail horses, with a team of pack mules.
Pace:The majority of this ride will be ridden at a walking pace due to the technicality of the terrain. There will be limited opportunities for faster riding.
Weight Limit:A maximum of 105kg / 230lbs.
Type of tack:Western saddles and bridles.
Seasons:July and August.
Group size:A minimum of 5 and a maximum of 8 guests, plus two Globetrotting guides.
Time in Saddle:On average, between 3 and 8 hours per day.
Riding Ability:Suitable for adventurous intermediate to advanced riders. For this ride, you must be able to mount from the ground unassisted. All riders MUST be saddle fit. Not sure what your riding ability is? Watch THIS video to find out.
Accommodation:Four nights in spacious safari-style canvas wall tents with sleeping cots, foam mattresses, sleeping bags, chairs, and a lantern. The wall tent camps also have a large kitchen/dining tent where breakfast and dinner are prepared and enjoyed.
The remaining night is spent in a drop camp with pup tents and air mattresses, where cooking will be done over the open fire.
Ride Length:6 days, 5 nights.
Inclusions:
The ride price includes all meals (from lunch on day 1 through to lunch on day 6), accommodation, riding activities, Globetrotting guides, Globetrotting photo & video package, rodeo tickets, and round trip transfers from Jackson hotel accommodation.
Exclusions:
The ride price does not include international or regional flights, travel insurance, accommodation pre/post ride in Jackson, alcohol (BYO is welcome) and staff tips. The amount you tip is at your discretion; we suggest budgeting around $25 USD per day.

DEPARTURE DATES & RATES

Itinerary

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*Please note, this is a suggested itinerary only and subject to change at the guides’ discretion due to weather and other influencing factors.

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Day 1

Hooray, our back country adventure begins today! Our hosts will collect us from our hotel in Jackson at 7am. A short, picturesque drive takes us to the office just south of Jackson Hole, where we’ll check in and be given a quick orientation. Then we’ll be driven to the trailhead, where the horses and mules are patiently waiting. Here, gear will be loaded onto the mules and we’ll be matched with our sturdy steeds for the week. Mounting up, it’s a 3.5-hour journey to our beautifully-situated Base Camp #1.

Dinner will be served at camp, then we’ll bed down in our spacious wall tents equipped with sleeping cots, foam mattresses, sleeping bags, chairs and a lantern. The gentle huffs and swishing tails of the four-legged team will lull us to sleep.
Day 2

This morning, our camp cook will whip up a delicious breakfast at around 7am. Then it’s time to saddle up for the 8-hour ride over Pinnacle Peak to our next campsite. The terrain will be challenging and rugged at times as we navigate a high mountain pass. At around midday, we’ll pause and let the horses and mules graze while we take in the spectacular view, search the sky for eagles and gobble up our packed lunch.

Halfway down the other side, at about 9,500 feet, we’ll reach a serene mountain meadow – our campsite for the night. Simple canvas tents will be complemented by a hot meal prepared over the open fire.
Day 3

After breakfast cooked on the coals, we’ll break camp, load the pack mules and ride out. Today’s 5 to 6-hour journey first takes us all the way down to the bottom of the canyon, then up another picturesque slope to Base Camp #2. Along the way, we might be lucky enough to cross paths with deer, or even moose!

Base Camp #2 boasts more big canvas wall tents, as well as a dining tent, where we’ll tuck into a hearty Western-style dinner.
Day 4

Today the mules get a rest while we explore the surrounds of Base Camp #2, embarking on a scenic 2.5-hour ride to Turquoise Lake. A high alpine gem perched at over 9,000 feet, this lake offers fishing enthusiasts the chance to throw in a line (provided you’ve secured your fishing license in advance). Meanwhile, the rest of the group will sit back and enjoy a leisurely picnic.

Riding in a loop, we’ll take in completely new surrounds on the trip back to Base Camp #2, and perhaps enjoy a trot and canter en route.
Day 5

Another day in paradise: the smell of coffee, or perhaps the sizzle of bacon or the scrape of flipping pancakes, will coax us out of our tents sometime after daybreak. No alarms dictate the pace here!

Depending on what we decide as a group, today’s ride could be anywhere from 5 to 8 hours. We’ll ascend to the top of 7 Mile Flat to marvel at breathtaking views of the Teton Mountain Range to the west, including the famous ‘Sleeping Indian’ mountain. Riding on, we’ll find ourselves looking out across an awe-inspiring vista of Jackson Hole Valley far below. The setting sun will find us back at Base Camp #2, circled contentedly around the fire.
Day 6

We’re heading back to civilisation today, but rest assured, there are a few more adventures to be had on the way. After breaking camp, loading the mules and saddling the horses, we’ll set off on a 3-hour ride towards the Granite Creek trailhead, with lunch en route.

Shortly before reaching the trailhead, those of us who are keen to soak in the inviting waters of Granite Creek Hot Springs (that’s everyone, right?!) will say a fond farewell to our horses and jump into the water. The rest of the group will travel one more mile to the trailhead, where the horses and mules will be untacked and turned out on the pasture for a well-earned break. Then our guide will drive to the hot springs and together we’ll return to Jackson, where we’ll be dropped off at our accommodation.

After reacquainting ourselves with the wonders of technology, those who still have a bit of energy in the tank will head downtown to the Saturday night rodeo, the perfect finale for our epic adventure.
Transfer Information

Transfers to and from your accommodation in Jackson, Wyoming are included in the price (on day one and day six).

You will need to arrive and stay in Jackson at your own expense the night before the ride begins. You will also need to book a night’s accommodation in Jackson on the last day of the ride so that the group isn’t rushed getting back to town. You can fly out anytime the following day.

On day one, you will be collected from your accommodation at 7am. And on the final day, you will be dropped off at your hotel in Jackson in the late afternoon.

PLEASE NOTE: Globetrotting strongly recommends guests book their Jackson accommodation immediately after booking their saddle seat on this ride. It is peak summer season and accommodation availability will be tight if you leave it too late. We recommend the Virginian Lodge, Cowboy Village Resort or Elk Country Inn, but there is a plethora of hotels in town to suit all budgets.